General Discussion

Chan790

(20,176 posts)

109. I'm not sure I want to go that far...

Fri Nov 16, 2012, 11:21 PM

Nov 2012

what I'm talking about is co-housing types of arrangements where each unit has a small studio room that doubles between entertaining and sleeping space, a kitchenette and a bathroom. That's it for private space...300' square or less.

Renters/owners have access to community space including common-rooms, full kitchens, in-building gyms, saunas, building gardens or other amenities; there is likewise the expectation of participation in communal life: you are expected to attend communal meals, help with small building chores (such as sweeping), participate in building events (we might have a Superbowl pot-luck or book-club or whatever the community is organized around.)

It's not for everybody admittedly, it's a very communitarian lifestyle and extremely at-odds with the individualism of American culture. For some people, the concept is appealing.

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Could you live (happily) in a micro apartment? [View all] Liberal_in_LA Nov 2012 OP

That's bigger than the apartment I rented in graduate school. I could do it. neeksgeek Nov 2012 #1

Looks like the perfect place for trysts and nothing more. SleeplessinSoCal Nov 2012 #2

Alone? Sure if walls are nicely soundproofed. With anyone else? Hell no. nt dmallind Nov 2012 #3

I lived in a dorm room smaller than that for three years... so yeah scheming daemons Nov 2012 #4

As a say, 50-year-old? With a spouse? WinkyDink Nov 2012 #58

Not as a 50 year old w/a spouse. Not happily. Michigan Alum Nov 2012 #77

Seriously. My dorm room was tiny. Jennicut Nov 2012 #183

"Dining Table converts to bed." madaboutharry Nov 2012 #5

It's a Murphy bed. Barack_America Nov 2012 #21

Looking at the floorplan pokerfan Nov 2012 #132

sure oldtime dfl_er Nov 2012 #6

Yes, that's all the apartment I want. Chan790 Nov 2012 #7

I'd need windows on at least two sides. I love light and like to grow plants. Liberal_in_LA Nov 2012 #24

Make communal kitchens & dining areas WolverineDG Nov 2012 #53

communal toilets and showers too. then you could make the apartments even smaller HiPointDem Nov 2012 #90

I'm not sure I want to go that far... Chan790 Nov 2012 #109

i'm sure someone does, though. my tongue was in cheek & i was harkening back to HiPointDem Nov 2012 #110

I could never live somewhere with communal toilets and showers. Odin2005 Nov 2012 #176

I agree. Luminous Animal Nov 2012 #118

I live in a house that is 17'w X 22' long... DonViejo Nov 2012 #8

I did for a couple of years in NYC. Squinch Nov 2012 #9

That's how I was in my last place. silverweb Nov 2012 #169

Yes. On intermediate term business trips, such places would be ideal. bluestate10 Nov 2012 #10

This is just about the size of my living space. cbayer Nov 2012 #11

In your case, every inch of space probably has Gormy Cuss Nov 2012 #15

Lol! Porpoises are always welcome! As an aside, when people ask us how many cbayer Nov 2012 #23

LOL! Thanks! peacebird Nov 2012 #154

Same here, but not on the water. I love it. freshwest Nov 2012 #127

I do, too. Mine is laid out much differently than this, with two separate cbayer Nov 2012 #160

No, I couldn't. Cobalt Violet Nov 2012 #12

It would be hard to live anywhere without an oven. The sufrommich Nov 2012 #13

In my younger years I did. Barack_America Nov 2012 #14

for one person, sure quinnox Nov 2012 #16

In a big city where there's lots to do within walking distance out of your apartment gollygee Nov 2012 #17

I could. That is all the less to clean 'cause I am a lousy housekeeper. n/t RebelOne Nov 2012 #18

No thanks... ohheckyeah Nov 2012 #19

Me too! I'd get claustrophobia in that place. I like SPACE...inside and out! Auntie Bush Nov 2012 #100

Me, too. ohheckyeah Nov 2012 #164

Elbow room, I call it. Jamastiene Nov 2012 #133

I seldom even see my neighbors. n/t ohheckyeah Nov 2012 #165

Could I? Yes FreeJoe Nov 2012 #20

Only if there was a Zombie apocalypse and Baitball Blogger Nov 2012 #22

If it's this well designed, I'd be happy in the 300 SF model. The 150 SF one, not so much Gormy Cuss Nov 2012 #25

Easy peasy. cliffordu Nov 2012 #26

No. I'd be claustrophobic. PDJane Nov 2012 #27

Here's another concept for a micro-room sakabatou Nov 2012 #28

That is so cool! Thank you for posting that. yardwork Nov 2012 #86

That's wonderful! Hekate Nov 2012 #123

thanks, I remembered this (or something similar) when I saw the OP nilram Nov 2012 #131

Excellent. Thank you. ...nt TeeYiYi Nov 2012 #163

Wow jackbenimble Nov 2012 #178

I could and I did. Nye Bevan Nov 2012 #29

I already do. It's called a trailer. Many others live on their boats. Cleita Nov 2012 #30

Unfortunately, I have accumulated a lot of stuff in my trailer. RebelOne Nov 2012 #38

Time to have a yard sale. Cleita Nov 2012 #48

Good idea. I end up giving a lot of stuff away for charity. RebelOne Nov 2012 #61

You will still end up giving some to charity. Cleita Nov 2012 #64

I get motivated to declutter by watching "Hoarders" Marrah_G Nov 2012 #74

me too! lol Liberal_in_LA Nov 2012 #114

I'm not the pack rat in my family. Jamastiene Nov 2012 #134

Tell your mother to rent a storage unit if she can't part with her possessions. Cleita Nov 2012 #159

No one tells my mother anything. Jamastiene Nov 2012 #166

I have lived happily in a motorhome for at least half the year almost every year Zorra Nov 2012 #31

Yes, I live in a mobile home. RebelOne Nov 2012 #37

I could do it, I suppose, but not happily. Arkansas Granny Nov 2012 #32

If it was that cool and new yes marlakay Nov 2012 #33

yep Shankapotomus Nov 2012 #34

I could literally fit eight of those in my bedroom. Granted, I live in a huge room. Gregorian Nov 2012 #35

I'd prefer a larger space, but would do fine there. MineralMan Nov 2012 #36

I think it's a great idea. n/t jackbenimble Nov 2012 #182

of course. I once lived in a tipi for several months--over the winter--at about 8000 ft elev. librechik Nov 2012 #39

Holy Cow! DonRedwood Nov 2012 #105

LOL, the seventies were a happy blur. lalalu Nov 2012 #153

My brother lived in a tipi he built for a year in early 70s. It was quite roomy actually. Hoyt Nov 2012 #158

Nope. Le Taz Hot Nov 2012 #40

Sure, if I had another one just like it across the hall. Thegonagle Nov 2012 #41

If I lived in an over-populated city, sure. EC Nov 2012 #42

Yep. But I'd still need a studio/shop the size of a house. nt rrneck Nov 2012 #43

As long as I have a TV, internet access, and a working shower space doesn't matter. Initech Nov 2012 #44

Thousands of people do in NYC. 300 square foot studios are not unusual. nt geek tragedy Nov 2012 #45

This implies that "300 sq. ft." is relatively new, with Bloomberg: WinkyDink Nov 2012 #60

That is officially obamanut2012 Nov 2012 #170

slap some wheels on it and you've got an RV/camper eShirl Nov 2012 #46

I live in nyc Arcanetrance Nov 2012 #47

Nope, I could not. CaliforniaPeggy Nov 2012 #49

My whole house is 900 sf XemaSab Nov 2012 #102

Good for you! That's bigger than my study, LOL! CaliforniaPeggy Nov 2012 #104

What's so funny? RobertBlue Nov 2012 #107

Oh no you didn't! mentalsolstice Nov 2012 #167

I've done it, but I was single then. Wouldn't be much fun with a kid. n/t gkhouston Nov 2012 #50

NO way in hell. I have claustrophobia and would go nutz in a place like that. :-( nt Raine Nov 2012 #51

No. I have a modest life, but living in such an apartment obviously in a large city would be fatal HereSince1628 Nov 2012 #52

I couldnt even fit all my plants in there! bunnies Nov 2012 #54

Not at this stage of my life. I have hobbies and pets that take up a whole lot of space. slackmaster Nov 2012 #55

If I were alone I could be Blue_In_AK Nov 2012 #56

BT, DT. Called it a "dorm room." TPTB want to see us literally squeezed. WinkyDink Nov 2012 #57

Exactly. There have been WAY too many articles pushing the micro-housing thing. Matariki Nov 2012 #68

That looks like a prison cell. Matariki Nov 2012 #59

And the bed is essentially in the kitchen Matariki Nov 2012 #62

That apartment doesn't have enough space for books, dogs, and plants XemaSab Nov 2012 #63

Sure it does! Need to add shelving that goes vertical. Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #71

I've got a LOT of books XemaSab Nov 2012 #79

Books are always a problem, especially for old farts who have MineralMan Nov 2012 #80

I vastly prefer physical books XemaSab Nov 2012 #85

I understand, and felt the same way, until I unloaded my library. MineralMan Nov 2012 #87

Me, too. Yeah, for that many, would have to get rid of some of 'em. Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #88

Your definition of "galore" must not be mine, with my 13 major bookcases. WinkyDink Nov 2012 #143

Oh, no...there's a tv show about that. It's called "hoarders." :) nt Honeycombe8 Nov 2012 #147

My books take up that much space. hobbit709 Nov 2012 #65

No. Claustrophobic. MadrasT Nov 2012 #66

Yes, I could, so I can reduce my carbon footprint Illinoischick Nov 2012 #67

No way!! Pisces Nov 2012 #69

"He won�t have to cook, we�ll condition him to eat at the factory" Matariki Nov 2012 #70

Yes, if I lived alone. Marrah_G Nov 2012 #72

No Incitatus Nov 2012 #73

Yes. I've had less living space in the past. Bad_Ronald Nov 2012 #75

I think to myself about the squallid living conditions currently enjoyed LanternWaste Nov 2012 #76

By myself, heck yeah... cmf Nov 2012 #78

My first apartment in Tucson was 380 sq feet and it was very livable so...maybe CreekDog Nov 2012 #81

Gladly, especially if it was affordable. RedCappedBandit Nov 2012 #82

30x10? Sure. Ruby the Liberal Nov 2012 #83

At first I was horrified, but then realized this was for the servants CreekDog Nov 2012 #84

easily as a single. lived in such places all my life. several times with a partner. HiPointDem Nov 2012 #89

Actually, yes- I would love that apartment. And enough cupboards for the cat to adore it!! nt cecilfirefox Nov 2012 #91

Hmmmm... Needs an oven and place to cook. nt cecilfirefox Nov 2012 #92

K&R for later. silverweb Nov 2012 #93

That is too depressing to even contemplate Sen. Walter Sobchak Nov 2012 #94

I'd move there if I were to lose the apartment that I live in now. But what do I know... Luminous Animal Nov 2012 #116

ROFLMAO!!! Le Taz Hot Nov 2012 #142

You ever see a FEMA trailer? nolabear Nov 2012 #95

I spent a lot of days in a trailer InsultComicDog Nov 2012 #121

Apartment, no. Cabin. Awww hell yeah! Earth_First Nov 2012 #96

I do like the cabin idea. Jamastiene Nov 2012 #138

Yes, yes, yes. Jack Sprat Nov 2012 #97

Definitely. theKed Nov 2012 #98

Yes, and I have in the past. bluedigger Nov 2012 #99

that's like living in a hotel room shanti Nov 2012 #101

I could easily obamanut2012 Nov 2012 #103

My books wouldn't fit. nt msanthrope Nov 2012 #106

One of the nice things about living in San Francisco, there is usually a library within a few Luminous Animal Nov 2012 #117

You clearly don't understand the heart of a book collector. Matariki Nov 2012 #119

Quite honestly, I don't understand the heart of any kind of collector. Luminous Animal Nov 2012 #122

I have the type of books libraries don't have, but wish they do. I've made several donations msanthrope Nov 2012 #150

Indeed. If I had an office twice this size next door, yeah sure! Coyotl Nov 2012 #155

Looks like a nice apartment, so yes, probably MNBrewer Nov 2012 #108

I lived in one about that size for 10 years REP Nov 2012 #111

Probably a bit tight even just for me but not far from tolerable solo with custom layouts TheKentuckian Nov 2012 #112

No. The photos alone make me feel claustrophobic. My bedroom's larger than that apartment, highplainsdem Nov 2012 #113

lots of people live in trailers InsultComicDog Nov 2012 #115

Hello, Claustrophobia Hekate Nov 2012 #120

I lived in a mobile home when I was a kid liberal_at_heart Nov 2012 #124

Best attitude in the entire thread. Jamastiene Nov 2012 #139

I live in a mobile home which is about the same width RebelOne Nov 2012 #161

Hey Cool, thanks, Liberal _in_LA.. That seems actually bigger Cha Nov 2012 #125

I've actually lived in quite a bit less Warpy Nov 2012 #126

I believe I can answer that yes... VanillaRhapsody Nov 2012 #128

I'm quite certain that view of the sink would wear me down BeyondGeography Nov 2012 #129

Easily. donheld Nov 2012 #130

I don't like sleeping in the kitchen BainsBane Nov 2012 #135

No, especially considering I could have tons more room for way less Jamastiene Nov 2012 #136

Decades ago, my then local 70MM screen movie theatre put a wall down the center and began showing Fire Walk With Me Nov 2012 #137

The Fifth Element's living standards are here today MrScorpio Nov 2012 #140

I have too much stuff. StarryNite Nov 2012 #141

For $1500 per month? I think not. cemaphonic Nov 2012 #144

as long as my dog doesn't mind Douglas Carpenter Nov 2012 #145

Now? No. Phentex Nov 2012 #146

That'd be fucking awesome. I LOVE enclosed spaces. nt Comrade_McKenzie Nov 2012 #148

Have you ever seen those teeny Tumbleweeds houses? You'd love them. Squinch Nov 2012 #172

Claustrophobia mode: on. Heywood J Nov 2012 #149

I have lived in smaller liberal N proud Nov 2012 #151

So have I. RebelOne Nov 2012 #162

Me too. Lived in a one room efficiency right out of college. $325 a month, I think Liberal_in_LA Nov 2012 #179

I think these would be great for an aging population. lalalu Nov 2012 #152

Could be the ultimate ripoff. Less for more $$$ same for more $$$ = more $$$. I've watched people RKP5637 Nov 2012 #156

Thank you. woo me with science Nov 2012 #174

And here's the look for future generations! RKP5637 Nov 2012 #157

+1000000000 woo me with science Nov 2012 #175

I already do. silverweb Nov 2012 #168

add a fireplace and some solar panels, put it in remote mountain forest and i'm there. BlueMan Votes Nov 2012 #171

I've lived in smaller places... and not alone. Rhythm Nov 2012 #173

Yes jackbenimble Nov 2012 #177

If it was in the middle of the wilderness, hell yeah. tabasco Nov 2012 #180

Yes, if I were single. Would need 1 more room if married. OneTenthofOnePercent Nov 2012 #181

I lived in a trailer, but to be honest I am happier now in a bigger house. Of course, there GreenPartyVoter Nov 2012 #184